The job of an international human rights lawyer isn't always battling for the angels. Sometimes it involves having to look out for the interests of devils, as Golriz Ghahraman did.
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Free speech matters, in any language
An ODT column on the use of te reo in the media has put a lot of noses out of joint. Offensive as it is to some, let's learn from recent history and figure out how to discuss intolerance rather than simply yelling back
Read MoreRemembering Holodomor; The Great Ukrainian Famine
The connection between famines and democracy may not be obvious. but each sheds light upon the other.
Read MoreWhen did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?
Poor Dave Withrow's radio insists on speaking te reo Māori to him. Won't someone please think of the aging fisherman?
Read MoreHow goes the revolution? Too soon to say
While they're still getting used to being taken seriously and driven around in limos, we've already seen some fumbles and fair play by the new government
Read MoreHow far right is New Zealand?
I prepared this for a US audience; hence its more American perspective. But it may also inform New Zealanders about their politics and about MMP politics.
Read MoreReducing Child Poverty
Despite many attempts, we have been remarkably ineffective at reducing child poverty. Can we expect the current government to do better?
Read MoreHow to Have More Coherent and Directed Child Policy and Support Services.
The new government may talk about paying greater attention to children, but it needs to change the advice and delivery institutions to achieve its goal.
Read MoreIn defence of discord
Kumbaya be damned... Labour needs to pull-up its big boy pants, thank National for its robust approach and get on with business. That is how you become a great government
Read MoreA very MMP election... & a manicured mandate
After a wee holiday, some thoughts on how the new government should play its hand... and reflections on some good decisions that laid the ground for the 'coalition of losers'
Read MoreHow Have We Changed?
Rogernomics wanted to change us culturally. Has it succeeded?
Read MoreSimon Bridges thinks that Simon Bridges is eroding parliamentary democracy
Changes to parliamentary procedure that Simon Bridges helped craft and then explicitly championed while in Government now appear to be bad for National in opposition. So Simon Bridges thinks that they are the worst attack on democratic rights we have ever seen.
Read MoreWe can do better than this
A dislike of capitalism is something that unites the partners in the new government. They believe it has done more harm than good. But what do they actually mean? And what is their alternative? Over the next three years we will find out and whether our lives can be better.
Read MoreWhither Coalition Government?
Coalition governments are a consequence of MMP. They may better reflect us and our democratic aspirations than the Winner-Takes-All ones of the past.
Read MoreWell you picked your tree, now bark it up
The Labour-NZ First coalition deal proposes taking our electoral laws back to 2001-2005. I don't think thats a good place to revisit.
Read MorePast Rationality: The 2017 Nobel Award for Economics
Paul Krugman, the 2008 winner, tweeted ‘Yes! Behavorial econ is the best thing to happen to the field in generations, and [Richard] Thaler showed the way.'
Read MoreSchrodinger's cat is Malawi's flag
Winston Peters' announcement that he will enter a coalition with Labour gives the 2017 election its final meaning. But it sounds like it was a very, very close run thing.
Read MoreThis is it - a government - soon - maybe
Maybe there will be a government this week. Maybe not. To fill the vacuum speculation is the only alternative.
Read MoreSue Bradford: Constant Radical
How effective are those who pursue change outside the parliamentary system?
Read MoreWhile we wait, a few lessons from the caretaker days
New Zealand will not fall apart while we wait for a government to be negotiated. But that does not mean we have to just accept a lack of respect for transparency and shouldn't expect better
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